In the consultation document, education and lifelong learning minister Fiona Hyslop says decisions on whether to shut a rural school will not be taken until "alternatives have been explored and the potential impact on the community fully considered". Closure of a rural school often means children have to travel out of their local area, while the community loses use of school buildings, grounds and facilities, according to the consultation.
The Scottish government is hoping to set up a new framework for consultations on school closures and put in place a more open, transparent process that is easier to understand. "This will set out more clearly the roles of both the local authorities and of the parents and communities consulted," says Hyslop.
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